This package contains 2 versions of the
X-15-1 with the interim XLR-11 rocket engines and two versions of the aircraft
with the million-horsepower XLR-99 rocket engine.

The North
American X-15-1 (serial number AF56-6670) was the first of three experimental
X-15 aircraft built in the late 1950s to demonstrate the ability of pilots to
fly rocket-powered airplanes out of the earth's atmosphere and back to precision
landing. The X-15 was a single-place research airplane, designed to obtain data
on flight at extremely high altitudes and speeds and on the effects of such
flight conditions on the aircraft and on the pilot. The X-15-1 was rolled out in
October 1958, and successfully completed its first powered flight in January
1960, after a series of captive and glide flights. The No. 1 aircraft completed
81 missions during the entire (9-year) X-15 research program. The legendary test
pilot Scott Crossfield was the first to fly the X-15-1 in the spring of 1959
while NASA pilot Bill Dana flew the aircraft for the last time in October 1968.

NEW An automatic ignition
sequence to start the X-15 engine at the touch of a single “magic” red button

NEW! New cockpit spotlights (VC
and exterior model)

NEW! Ten camera definitions or
views (FSX only), some of them corresponding to the real-world X-15 external
bug-eye cameras

NEW! New X-15 custom sound sets
for FSX and FS2004

NEW! New “invisible” canopy mode
to fly the X-15 without her clamshell-type canopy on for more visibility and a
spectacular view from the VC

NEW! Twelve saved flights based
on X-15 historical missions to simulate a high-altitude launch from a carrier
aircraft or a takeoff from the ground
Spectacular visual special effects including rocket engine flames, APU exhaust
and propellant jettison effects

A custom fuel management system with three different types of propellants
(water-alcohol or ammonia, liquid oxygen and hydrogen peroxide) and pressurized
helium or nitrogen, like in the real-world X-15 rocket plane

NEW! A comprehensive 100-page
user manual and a 20-page VC manual inspired from the original X-15 utility
flight manuals, in a printable PDF format (English and French language versions
are included with the software) X-15-1 Add-on Aircraft Description

This package
contains two versions of the X-15-1 aircraft (serial number AF56-6670) equipped
with the XLR-11 rocket engines (limited-mission configuration) and two versions
of the X-15-1 aircraft equipped with the XLR-99 rocket engine (design-mission
configuration).

The X-15-1,
equipped with the interim XLR-11 engines, completed 21 flights between June 1959
and February 1961, before it was converted to the XLR-99 engine configuration.
The aircraft completed 60 flights in its design-mission configuration between
August 1961 and October 1968.

Removable
wing-tip pods that contained cameras and various research instruments were
attached to the aircraft in the fall of 1964. The pods and other parts of the
airplane were covered with temperature-sensitive paints of different colors. The
second variation of the aircraft also features a tail-cone box with additional
experimentation equipment and a reconnaissance camera window under the front
compartment.

"Clean" rollout version with the NACA vane-type boom nose and the original
(XLR-11) black panel.

"Dirty" version with the NACA vane-type boom nose and the original (XLR-11)
black panel.

“Dirty” version with the NACA/Nortronics ball nose and the original (XLR-99)
black panel.

NEW!
Each of the four X-15-1 aircraft comes with its own 3D fully functional
virtual cockpit which contains over 900 parts and nearly 200 animated
gauges, switches, levers, light indicators and flight instruments.

The VC allows a total 3D immersion into the
X-15 flying environment and comes with new internal spotlights, switches,
control sticks, handles and levers with tooltips. Virtually all switches in the
VC are clickable and can be used to simulate nearly every procedure required
during a mission.

As with the 2D instrument panels and the
exterior models, each virtual cockpit has been meticulously created to conform
as closely as possible to the cabin of the real X-15 rocket aircraft.

NEW!Automatic Ignition Sequence – The
X-15 can now be started automatically at the touch of a single "magic" red
button. This is similar to pressing CTRL+E with conventional FS aircraft.
However, the red button initiates all X-15 internal custom systems, including
her three-propellant rocket fuel management system.

What makes the
X-15 for Flight Simulator series exciting and unique are the advanced fully
functional instrument panels with custom gauges and systems to simulate almost
every step and procedure required in a typical X-15 mission:

Aircraft servicing (all
three propellants and gases);

APUs/generators/hydraulic
pump operation;

Propellant tank
pressurization;

Engine precool and prime;

Turbopump operation;

Rocket ignition sequence;

Monitoring of propellant
pressure gauges;

Propellant jettison.

Almost every
X-15 internal system has been integrated into the X-15 for Flight Simulator
panels:

Engine propellant and
control system;

Engine ignition system;

APUs and electrical power
distribution systems;

Hydraulic systems;

Temperature control systems.

The X-15-1 for
Flight Simulator comes with three main instrument panels and eight secondary
panels, either in their original black version or the later light blue-gray
version. Included with each X-15-1 add-on aircraft is:

A main panel;

A service panel;

A "vent, pressurize,
jettison" lever panel;

A throttle and speed brake
lever panel;

A left side panel;

A right side panel;

A radio panel (ADF panel on
some aircraft);

A center pedestal panel with
research instrumentation and stability augmentation system panels;

An RAS (reaction
augmentation system) panel on some aircraft;

In addition,
the default Flight Simulator Garmin GPS and magnetic compass panels are
available from the main panel. 240 custom gauges have been developed for the
X-15-1 for Flight Simulator and each one has been carefully designed based on
the original instrument found in the real X-15 aircraft. Note that one variation
of the X-15-1 has a revised light blue-gray instrument panel that replaced the
original black panel in the summer of 1963. The new panel contrasted better with
the gauges, light indicators and flight instruments.

X-15-1 (XLR-99 engine) instrument panels. Note the service panel at the top
and the SAS panel on the center pedestal.

X-15-1 (XLR-11 engines) original main
instrument panel before landing at Edwards Air Force Base.

X-15-1 (XLR-99 engine) main instrument panel. Note the engine timer at the
top.

X-15-1 (XLR-99 engine) revised light blue-gray main instrument panel. Note
the SAS control panel in the lower center section of the panel.

X-15-1 Utility Flight Manual

Included with
the software are the 100-page English and French versions of the X-15-1 Utility
Flight Manual, available in a printable PDF format (Adobe® Acrobat® Reader 5.0
or later required).

The manual has
been specifically designed for the X-15 for Flight Simulator and is based on the
original real-world X-15 utility flight manuals.

The flight
manual contains the necessary information for the installation and operation of
the X-15-1 virtual aircraft and associated instrument panels. It contains
instructions and procedures for both XLR-11 and XLR-99 rocket engine operation,
on the X-15-1 for Flight Simulator.

The end-user is
encouraged to print a copy of the manual for his/her own use, in conjunction
with the add-on simulation software. The best way to keep the manual handy for
easy reference during flight is to organize it in a durable presentation binder.